Find out how popular the last name Brada is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Brada.

Brada, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Brada surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Brada in America

Brada is the 140756th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Brada surname appeared 109 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Brada.

The history of the last name Brada

The surname Brada has its origins primarily in central Europe, notably from regions that are today within the borders of the Czech Republic and Germany. The first notable appearances of this name can be traced back to medieval times, around the 12th and 13th centuries. The name Brada is believed to derive from the Old Czech word "brada," meaning "beard." This descriptive surname possibly referred to an ancestor who had a prominent beard or was known for his beard.

Historical records mention the surname in various spellings. In medieval manuscripts from the Czech region, variations such as "Brady" or "Bratina" can be found, sometimes with Gothic script adding a layer of complexity to the transcription. One of the earliest recorded instances is a reference to a Jan Brada in a 13th-century land registry document from Moravia, indicating ownership of significant lands and suggesting an elevated social status.

Documents from the late Middle Ages and early Renaissance periods reveal the surname becoming slightly more widespread across the Czech and German-speaking territories. One key historical figure is Wenceslaus Brada, a 15th-century Bohemian knight who is mentioned in several historical chronicles. He is known for his participation in the Hussite Wars, which took place between 1419 and 1434. His exact birth and death dates are unclear, but records indicate he was active around 1420.

By the 16th century, the surname Brada appears in more formalized records, such as tax registers and church documents. Another notable name is Maria Brada, born in 1563, documented in the baptismal records of Olomouc, a historical city in Moravia. Her family was prominent in local trade, providing evidence of the name’s association with emerging bourgeois classes during this period.

The surname's history in Germany is also significant. Records from 17th-century Bavaria mention a Jurgen Brada, a merchant born in 1625, who expanded his trade operations across central Europe. Jurgen’s business acumen and extensive trading network helped solidify the surname's presence beyond its original geographic confines.

Another figure of importance is Father Thomas Brada, born in 1698, who served as a priest and later as an abbot in a notable Benedictine monastery in what is now the Czech Republic. He played a crucial role in the religious and cultural life of the area, leaving behind a legacy that included numerous manuscripts and theological texts.

In the early modern period, the Brada surname continued to spread. Archives from the 18th century note the presence of Josef Brada, born in 1754 in Prague. A respected lawyer, Josef contributed to the legal reforms in the Habsburg Empire, demonstrating the evolving professional roles individuals with this surname were occupying.

Throughout its history, the surname Brada has illustrated a progression from descriptive and occupational roots to associations with notable historical figures and various social strata. The record of these individuals highlights the enduring legacy of the Brada name in central European history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Brada

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Brada.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Brada was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Brada was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Brada, please contact us.

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